Winfield police, city council review golf cart regulations in city limits

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

WINFIELD ? Drivers of golf carts in Winfield are encouraged to make sure they are abiding by state and local laws when operating their golf carts in the city.

According to statements made by Winfield Police Chief, Jeff Dietrich, at Wednesday?s Winfield City Council meeting, city law enforcement are encouraging residents to better adhere to laws regarding golf cart operation within city limits. In particular, Dietrich warned against the illegality of minors without drivers licenses operating golf carts in the city.

?We do have citizens breaking the law driving golf carts without a drivers license, driving at night with no lights or driving recklessly,? said Dietrich. ?The scary thing is when I see kids driving around town, not stopping at stop signs, driving recklessly and there are other kids hanging off all sides of the thing. Someone is going to get hurt.?

According to board member Jan Walter, she has seen several separate incidents where young people have driven around town and were clearly underage and not following basic traffic and safety regulations.

?The fact is that we do have city codes that dictate how golf carts should be operated in town,? said city mayor, Chris Finnell. ?As a council, it?s partially our job to state and maintain these regulations and it?s the police?s job to enforce those regulations.?

With no official action taken regarding the issue at hand, the board did encourage locals to defer to the city codebook or talk to local law enforcement with questions regarding proper use of golf carts and ATV?s within city limits.

?Our biggest thing is that we don?t want someone getting hurt,? said Finnell.

In other news, the board did move to take action on two major items. One included an exemption from city regulations regarding livestock within city limits. After receiving inquiries from a local man asking about an exemption from the regulation in order to keep his kids? 4-H animals on land attached to 109 West Patterson while his kids are in the 4-H program, the board did approve the exemption.

According to city clerk, Angie Oepping, the land in question is being sold and the exemption would be made only to the individual purchasing the land.

?The land to the southwest of 109 West Patterson is the land in question here,? she explained. ?The current property and property owner was grandfathered in to the new regulations about livestock in the city limits, so whoever does purchase the land would also be given the exemption, but it would only be the individual that purchases the land. The exemption would not be extended onto future owners of that land.?

According to the individual planning on purchasing the land, the 4-H animals will be at the residence for four to five months out of the year, and the residence is already equipped with the proper fencing and structures to maintain the animals.

Second, the board also moved to expand their search for contractors to repair the city library?s roof. After opening bids to Winfield-area contractors and not receiving any bids back, the council moved to cast their net wider, advertising the project to other counties and nearby contractors.

In addition, the board:

? Approved a liquor license renewal for Casey?s General Store in Winfield.

? Approved Dietrich to advertise for a new part-time police officer as one of the police department?s officers has resigned.

? Approved the EPo lease agreement for the city?s solar project.